Justification:
This is a widespread species in the western-central Pacific and is not uncommon. Little is known about population and life history characteristics. It is occasionally seen in the aquarium trade, but arely imported to the USA. It is sometimes caught with hook and line. This species is listed as Least Concern.

This species is found from the Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Marshall Is, Marianas, Indonesia (Bali), Queensland (Australia), New Caledonia and eastward to Pitcairn Island. It does not occur in the Hawaiian Islands (B. Russell pers. comm. 2008).

A moderately large species, to about 227 SL. It was measured at 40 cm TL (Randall 2005). It inhabits clear lagoon and seaward reefs, on slopes or along upper part of drop-offs at depths of 3–50 m (Myers 1989, Myers pers. comm. 2008). It feeds mainly on benthic, hard-shelled, invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans (Westneat 2001).

This species may be captured by hook and line (Myers pers. comm. 2008) It is also collected for the aquarium trade, but rarely imported to the USA (Fenner undated). It is a medium value aquarium fish (US$10-15 per fish) in Australia (Ryan and Clarke 2005).

Myers, R.F. 1989. Micronesian reef fishes: A practical guide to the identification of the inshore marine fishes of the tropical central and western Pacific. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam.

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ryan, S. and Clarke, K. 2005. Ecological assessment of the Queensland marine aquarium fish fishery. A report to the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage on the ecologically sustainable management of the Queensland marine aquarium harvest fishery.